LASIK – Laser Vision Correction

Our practice is one of the most experienced LASIK practice in the Chicago area. Dr. Sondheimer has helped countless patients reduce their dependence on, or completely eliminate, glasses and/or contact lenses. Whatever the reason, thousands upon thousands of people choose to experience life without glasses or contact lenses.

What is Lasik eye surgery?

LASIK eye surgery is one of the most common types of refractive procedures that helps to correct refractive errors, such as:

nearsightedness

farsightedness

astigmatism

presbyopia

Using a targeted laser, the LASIK procedure helps to reshape the patients cornea so that light can become more focused on the retina to allow for clearer, sharper vision.

What Can I expect before lasik treatment?

After your initial evaluation, we will schedule an appointment to conduct a thorough examination of your eyes. Then the corneas will be photographed and a computerized map (corneal topography) will be created. This “map” will assess the shape of your cornea and is one of the many diagnostic tests we use to help achieve the best surgical outcome.

lasik eye surgery Benefits

Simply stated, during LASIK, the excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea of the eye to a more normal shape and thus diminish refractive area. When the eye is nearsighted (myopic), the curvature of the cornea (clear front portion of the eye) is too steep, and this causes light rays entering the eye to be focused in front of the retina. In the farsighted (hyperopic) eye, the point of convergence would be behind the retina. The astigmatic eye is shaped more like a football instead of round like a baseball. This uneven shape causes ghosting and/or double vision.

Presbyopia is best described as the loss of elasticity in the fine muscles of the eye making it difficult to focus properly. This generally occurs in the early 40s, and many people will notice subtle changes in the vision, difficulty seeing to read or do close work. It is at this time people may begin to depend on reading glasses or bifocals. LASIK laser vision correction CANNOT correct presbyopia; however “monovision” may be performed where one eye is corrected for near vision, and the other corrected for distance. In addition, it may not be suitable for some severe instances of myopia. In this case, we may recommend the Visian ICL to Chicago ICL patients.

How does laser vision correction improve vision in nearsightedness?

Nearsightedness occurs because the clear front portion of the eye (cornea) is too steep for the length of the eye, and light rays entering the eye converge in front of the retina (back of the eye) instead of on the retina. A special laser with a cool beam of light is used to gently reshape the surface of the cornea, making it flatter, more like a normal eye. Light rays can then converge properly on the retina, thus providing improved vision with clearer, sharper images.

Am i a good candidate for lasik vision correction?

We will advise you if you are a candidate for laser vision correction during an initial cost-free LASIK evaluation.

You must have healthy eyes, and be at least 18 years old to undergo the procedure for nearsightedness and/or astigma tism correction. You must be 21 years old for the farsightedness procedure.

Your vision must be stable for at least one year before the laser procedure.

You are not a good candidate if you have degenerative or autoimmune diseases, if you’re pregnant or nursing, if you have a condition that deters or slows healing, or if your expectations are higher than can be reasonably satisfied.

Is laser vision correction safe?

The FDA has approved the excimer laser for the treatment of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Millions of patients worldwide have undergone successful laser vision correction procedures, and well over one million excimer laser procedures have been performed in the U.S. since the FDA approval in 1996. Virtually all people treated experience an improvement in vision that would allow them to pass a drivers’ license exam without the aid of glasses or contacts.

laser treatment options

LASIK eye surgery Procedure

We place numbing drops in the eye so the patient can be quite comfortable during the procedure. Using a special instrument called an automated microkeratome, our eye care specialist gently glides the microkeratome across the cornea to create a “flap” that is left attached on one side and folded back. He then uses the “cool” beam of the excimer laser to remove a predetermined microscopic amount of tissue from the central portion of the cornea.

This reshaping, or removal of microscopic layers of corneal tissues, will cause the cornea to flatten in the case of the nearsighted eye, thus becoming less steep. When our eye care specialist has completed the reshaping, he carefully folds the “flap” back into place to heal naturally, without the need of sutures. Most patients choose to have both eyes done at the same time. The procedure itself takes only a matter of minutes. Most patients spend 15-20 minutes in the surgical suite. For planning purposes, you should plan to be with us about 2 hours on the day of your surgery.

Will I need to leave my contacts out before my LASIK evaluation?

Yes, the patient should remove soft contacts from your eyes at least two weeks prior to your appointment. The patient should also remove gas permeable or hard lenses for a minimum of three weeks. Removing your contact lenses allows your cornea to return to its natural shape.

Will i experience any post-operative pain?

Some patients have described having a slightly “sandy” or “gritty” feeling in their eyes immediately after the procedure; however this feeling will go away as soon as you administer the eye drops we prescribe. Over-the-counter pain medications should adequately control any discomfort.

lasik eye surgery recovery

After Lasik, most patients see very well the day after surgery and use eye drops for 2 weeks after surgery. Patients come in for a follow up appointments at least one day, one week, one month, and three months after surgery.

Schedule a consultation

Our eye specialists are experienced LASIK surgeons in Chicago who have years of experience providing vision care to the area’s patients. In addition to this refractive surgery, our specialists also treat glaucoma, PRK, and cataract patients. If you would like more information on LASIK eye surgery, contact one of our North Suburban Chicago offices. Call 847-677-2794to schedule a consultation today!

Multifocal/ Monovision by Stuart Sondheimer MD (Skokie, IL)

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For more information on our services, call our office to make an appointment.